Guide to shooting weddings (not really dvx related, sorry)

ryan brown

ryan brown

lOwEr CaSe Member
So... I've gotten more than a few questions regarding wedding shoots, and I figured it's about time to share what I've come up with. Here are some "guidline's" I wrote last week to give out to my guys in order to make things easier on me in post, and also to improve our business. It's kinda long, and I don't know if it fits on these forums or not, but here goe's.

How to Shoot a Ceremony​
:

Arrive at the location 1 1/2 hours prior to the scheduled ceremony start time.

Survey the ceremony area, and talk to the coordinator to see where we can and cannot set up tripods/camera's etc.

Find the bride, and spend 10-20 minutes shooting her getting ready, while camera B is with the groom. Close ups are essential here, but they must be steady.

Get a few shots of the ceremony area, some artsy shots, and get an establishing shot of the entire location. (outside shooting the church)

Set up gear and tripods, and do audio tests with the lavier mics.

20-30 minutes prior to the start, find the groom AND the officiant, and mic them up.

Get into positions, check audio, and prepare for ceremony. (once you begin recording, do not pause for any reason (no timecode breaks) and follow these rules:



1. When there's two cameramen, always line one of them up, on a tripod, shooting down the center of the aisle, with cameraman B shooting from the side angle towards the bride.

2. During the ceremony, do not shoot ANYTHING other than the bride's, groom's, and officiant's faces. This means no artsy shots, no shooting the hands of the bride and groom, no shooting closeups of the rings, no shooting the unity candle, etc. If I want to add in artsy shots, I can do that in post with footage shot before and after the ceremony. The only exception to this rule is when there is another person giving a reading... then of course shoot the person talking.

3. When the officiant is talking, try to get all three of the people involved (bride, groom, officiant) in the shot. We don't want to just have a close up of the bride for 15 minutes, and not see what the officiant is saying.

4. Once you find the shot you like, KEEP IT. I have plenty of other shots and camera angles to cut to if I think it gets boring. Find your shot, and for the most part, don't touch the camera throughout most of the ceremony, and only zoom in a bit during the vows and rings (or whenever the bride and groom are speaking directly to each other) Example:

The bride, groom, and officiant are all in the frame, with just enough room around them to compensate for "T.V. safe" (approximatelly half an inch of space around them). The camera is untouched until someone gets up to talk, then we follow the speaker. Once the speaker is finished reading, we go back to our original shot (shot A). The officiant does his thing, then we zoom in (slowly) just as the vows are beginning. Now we want a semi close shot of just the bride and the groom during the vows and rings. Once the officiant starts speaking again, we zoom back out to shot A.

5. Never assume someone else has the shot. Unless you make visual eye contact with the other shooter and let him know you need to move, shoot like you are the only cameraman. This means even, steady, camera movements throughout the entire ceremony. The "zoom" function on these camera's have a variable speed for a reason... so you don't have a zoom that is way too fast and cannot be used in the final result. ALWAYS ZOOM AND PAN AS SLOWLY AND STEADILY AS POSSIBLE WHILE STILL GETTING THE SHOT.

6. If you're zoomed in so far that the camera is shaking or hard to manuvier steadily, zoom out. Just shoot the entire scene... the closeups are of no use when they're not steady.

7. WATCH YOUR AUDIO LEVELS CONSTANTLY!! It's still the most common mistake, along with steady camera movements. We all need to teach ourselves this until it's second nature. We should check our levels every minute or two, and when we change scenes or an event changes, it NEEDS to register, and we should compensate accordingly.

8. White balance with the other camera(s) where the ceremony takes place before it begins... and also do this again before the reception takes place.

9. Always be on a tripod or monopod. Just because you think you're steady and the tiny 3 inch viewfinder looks steady, does not mean that you really are. Handheld rarely works, and when it does, it take's a lot of practice and concentration. The ONLY exception to this rule is if something unexpected happens, and you don't have a tripod ready. Then concentrate and get the shot instead of running around looking for your tripod and missing an important part of the wedding.


Summary:

White balance prior to the start of the ceremony.
One cameraman shooting down the aisle, and one shooting towards the bride.
Find your shot, make sure it's well framed with all the important people in it, and do not move the camera.
Watch audio levels.
No fast zooms or shaky camera (tripod only)...If the shot is not steady, it is worthless.





How to Shoot a Reception​

1. Most importantly: Get all the necessarry shots, without pressing the pause button at all during an important scene (first dance, toasts, cake cutting, garter/bouquet, etc.), and give a few seconds of recording prior, and after, the scene. This means that if the first dance has begun, do not pause the camera for any reason until they are finished dancing. Even if you don't have a good position and need to move, keep the camera recording while you move, even if it's pointed at the ground while you're doing this. When their is a break in timecode (pause of recording), it sets the two camera's out of sync, and it's a lot of work syncing them up all the time.

2. When someone is speaking, we NEED to see them in the shot. Do not wonder the camera during a scene, and make sure to include every important member in the shot. This means that during the toasts, we want to have the speaker, the bride, and the groom in the shot if possible. We don't want a wondering camera looking at the audience, or the bridal party, or anything else. If it's not possible to have all three important people in frame, we stay on the speaker, not the bride and groom. Video is not interesting, and quite frankly, annoying, when someone is speaking and we can't see them.

3. Tripods are our friends, and all important shots should be caught on one. The exception to this is dancing. When everyone is on the dance floor, it's OK to go handheld sometime's. Also, when there is not enough room, like in the cake cutting a lot, concentrate and go handheld. But when in handheld, ALWAYS CONCENTRATE ON STAYING STEADY.

4. WATCH YOUR AUDIO LEVELS CONSTANTLY!! It's much more difficult during a reception than it is a ceremony to attain good audio because the environment is constantly changing (dancing's loud, toast's are quiet, people are yelling near the camera, etc.) You need to check them and adjust every few minutes.

5. No artsy shots during an important scene. During the first dance, cake cutting, toasts, etc, do not try and make a "cool" looking shot. Every once in awhile it works, but for the most part, it does not, and this is because of the movement and shaky camera involved in achieving the "cool" shot. Intimacy is important, and you can always achieve this with slow zooms to a close up shot of the bride and groom (on a tripod, of course). Along with this, during cake cuttings, we want to see the bride and groom's face, not just a closeup of their hands cutting a cake. Always try and get EVERYTHING in the shot.

6. ALWAYS ZOOM AND PAN AS SLOWLY AND STEADILY AS POSSIBLE WHILE STILL GETTING THE SHOT. It works out better a lot of the time if we stand back and just shoot a wide shot. Zooming in and out causes a lot of footage that needs to be cut out. Example:

The DJ is announcing the bridal party, and they are all walking through a door into the reception area. Don't attempt to zoom in on everyone's faces while they're walking in, then zoom back out, then back in when the next couple is walking in. Just set your camera on a tripod, and shoot a wide angle. This works great with two cameras, because one can set up close to the door, and one a bit further away... then I have the closer shots desired, and the wide shot, so I can cut back and forth in editing.

Summary:

Record ALL of the important scenes without pausing, starting early and ending late.
When someone is speaking to the crowd, they must be in the shot at all times.
Use a tripod or monopod as often as possible.
Watch audio levels.
No fast zooms or shaky camera. Stand back and get the shot.

Have a good shoot.







Hope this helps out a bit, guys.:)

-brown
 
Last edited:
Okay, so,... i know this is an old thread... but i wanna dig it back out. I am thinking about getting into the wedding videography market. and was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving a little more info. about how big is your "team" and do you do stills as well? or do you leave that to another crew. We're thinking about doing everything, video, stills, website, etc. also, is everyone on your team pretty much "equals" do you split the profits evenly? or do you have ppl that just shoot, and don't get as much as the people that put it all together? just kinda curious how you run things..... thanks
 
1. "Team" consists of me as the "director" and one other shooter with me. I have 4-5 shooters that I call upon when needed, but usually only need one, except for double/triple bookings.

2. We do not do stills. That's another business entirely, and the bride/groom always have a still photographer of their choice. I have a few that I've worked well with on various shoots, and I recommend them if asked (and vice versa)

3. I do not split profits equally. As for myself, I get $350 for directing an event ($350 to any director). My second shooter (with his own gear) gets $250 day rate, and if I provide the gear, I'll give them $150-$200 depending on who and the quality of work.

I'm the lead editor, and I handle *most* projects myself at my house. This last season, and the current season we've gotten a LOT more business, so when needed I'll pass off a wedding to another editor (not my shooters) and pay as follows:

$150 per edited ceremony
$150 per edited reception
$100 per montage (usually only one per package, but sometimes they order 2)
and they just bring me a hard drive and I make final cuts and author here at the house.

This is also the same price's I pay myself for editing. The rest goes to the company and new gear.

-brown
 
Question

Question

Thanks, your guideline is really helpful, I've been asked to do a wedding this summer and this article of yours is a godsend:)

I have a question for you. Do you shoot the majority of the wedding ceremony 60i or 24p or do you shoot mostly 24p and just shoot 60i the parts you plan on doing slo-mo? Thanks again.

Zenish
 
Nice to see this thread revived.

RC, props to you for putting this together. It's excellent. I was wondering if you might comment on your post work flow. What do you edit with? How do you manage the process? Typical lenghts, time-to-edit, etc.

( *sigh* too bad there isn't a wedding shooters section on the board.)
 
That advice is pretty much right on. The only thing we do differently is have the main camera operator have a handheld cam as well, to get the procession, as well as cutaway shots of the crowd and other elements during long homilies or speakers.

The only other thing that I would add to that is to make sure that you have lights with you for the reception. Small camera mounted ones work well. Just make sure that you don't blast people out with them, give yourself some good distance between you are your subject. I usually warn the bride and groom beforehand so there are no suprises.

There was a big debate about starting a wedding/event section on this site with a great number of members voting for it, so I don't know why it has not happened yet
 
If i only had one camera i would shoot in the back up the isle, that would be the only place you could cover everything and get things framed right.
 
When I first got into video, I told myself I would never do weddings or porn.

I've done several weddings. ;-0



-Bill
 
I've done only a few weddings and the one suggestion that I would make is to try to attend the rehearsal. (usually the night before the ceremony) I usually don't plan on recording anything, but I bring a camera for hand held use, just in case.

Attending the rehearsal will make you more prepared, since you will now know in advance how the ceremony will take place and you can figure out the best camera placement. Usually the "sound guy" will be there and you will get an opportunity to discuss patching into the system directly for audio.

If appropriate, try to talk with the officiant of the wedding and if they have done weddings there before, ask them where other videographers have placed cameras. They may come up with some areas you never thought of. (I have heard of this back-firing - the officiant may tell you where NOT to place a camera)

If there is wedding planner there running the show, they most likely will have a schedule for the day.

One issue that I have run into is you have little time between the wedding and the reception. In my little experience, all of my receptions have been in a different location than the church. Knowing the schedule in advance and having a second person makes a big difference in getting the shots of them leaving the church and arriving at the reception hall, while you tear down.

Lastly, bring some power bars or something to snack on -- even though there may be food everywhere, you rarely get a chance to sit down and eat anything. :beer:
 
Thanks for the info guys. I am shooting a wedding this weekend for family. I will be at the rehersal and have access to the chapel and the reception hall prior to everyone being there. After they are decorated I am going to go and get a bunch of cut away shots, then I can focus on the ceremony with no worries (hopefully).
 
I've always had bad luck having the 2nd camera up front.

Either:

a) someone stands in the way
b) you only get one of the bridal couple

I usually have the 2nd camera in the back as well either up in the balcony or up on a riser. That way I can get both of the bridal couple in the same shot and see BOTH their reactions to each other while saying the vows.
 
If appropriate, try to talk with the officiant of the wedding and if they have done weddings there before, ask them where other videographers have placed cameras. They may come up with some areas you never thought of. (I have heard of this back-firing - the officiant may tell you where NOT to place a camera)
Click to expand...

Yeah, Don't ever let the officiant think that he can dictate how you will shoot your video. Its good to be respectfull to them, and being polite and willing to work with them, but I always tell him where I am going to be, and that I will not interfere or be a distraction in anyway.
 
Monopods are essential if you are shooting a wedding solo. Tripods take a little time leveling and take up too much space (i.e. cake cutting is always crowded!). I like to use the monopod to get elevated shots of the dance floor, and if you lower it back down slowly you get a semi-crane shot.

I require a CD with all the music that the Bride and Groom dance to. I open the shot with the DJ announcing who is gonna dance and then I fade out on the room audio and fade in to the CD.


Nice posts, lets see some more! :thumbup:
</IMG>
 
Last edited:
It's allways interesting to see how wedding events in other countries are captured, I spend some time on a UK forum as well were I found big differences in the way weddings are dealth with compared to my country (Belgium)
It seems that weddings in America or the UK are much more big business
then here and that people are willing to pay much more money for it.

I have been in the business now for 3 years and almost allways solo, if you have to work alone you develope a sixth sence during a shoot, because I know exactly what I want to achieve during editing I allready take that into consideration during a shoot. Another thing is that I always travel light, just take with me what I need. I have a special vest with a lot of pockets to fit all small gear and I have a special backpack which fits a second backup cam.

For church and townhall I allways use a tripod (It's the only thing beside my camera I have to carry around then) and during the fotoshoot I always work handheld. In the evening I work partially handheld but also use a monopod which suspends in a heavy duty belt that I wear then, (You can't see the belt as my shirt hangs over it) I have a Sony vx2100 and a dvx that I use but I can't hold it longer then 10min straight on without getting tired, that's why I use the monopod which can be attached to the belt so I can shoot for an unlimited amount of time and get very steady shots at the same time, even when zooming in.

I also use a samson zoom h4 for my audio recording in the townhall which is the most important part here in Belgium in regard to sound, I have considered using a clipon wireless mic but the zoom h4 suites my purpose better, it records the voices very clearly. In Church the sound is less important here, then I just get close enough to record the voices when they are putting on the rings as it is just a few sentences that are spoken then, the camera's inbuild mic is then sufficient.

Furhermore I also made a chatbox which is quite popular, it's a box containing a harddisk recorder, a camera and a tv, the guests can say their best wishes into the camera (they can see themselves on the tv) and the recorder records from about 20:00 in the evening untill 6 in the morning, because it records unmanned people are very "loose", I have the most fun editing this when I see people being very polite in the beginning and acting out absolutely rediculous in the middle of the night when the beer starts working. :)

Working alone like this does wear me down, the next day I am usualy a zombie and need about 2 days to recover, especially when they order the chatbox as well I have to drive back the next day real early to pick it up again.

But even with all this stress it bring with it, I love every part of it, especially the editing part is someting I allways look forward to. I hope I can continue doing this for a long time. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top